Floating harbor



Rou h 0 en Water Oct. 13, 1970 E. J. LESH 3,533,240

FLOATING HARBOR Filed March 24, 1967 hil 1],

Rough Open Oil Film Plastic or Smooih Enoiosed Water Smooth Enclosed Plastic or Oil INVENTOR Edward J. Lesh United States Patent cc 3,533,24 Patented Oct. 13, 1970 3,533,240 FLOATING HARBOR Edward J. Lesh, 1337 Woods Run Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15230 Filed Mar. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 625,769 Int. Cl. E02b /04; B63b 39/00 US. Cl. 61-5 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Means are provided for controlling rough seas to provide a protected harbor including a buoyant tubing to rest on rough Water to enclose an area to be rendered smooth and to confine a film of oil on the enclosed area.

This invention relates to a floating harbor and particularly to a method and apparatus for controlling rough seas to provide a protected harbor. The problem of unloading ships in rough seas in unprotected areas is well known. This is particularly a problem in less developed areas of the world where natural protected harbors are not available and permanent man-made protection has not been provided.

I have found a method and apparatus by means of which a protected harbor can be quickly provided in any area of the sea so that loading and unloading can be carried out without the dangers encountered with continued wave action.

The purpose here, is to keep the seas surface calm in all weather. As illustrated, it completely encircles the area, creating a lagoon or protected harbor. It can be opened at both ends to make an elongated U shape, along a beach to protect a beach-head, shipping, etc. It consists of three tubes of neoprene or like material that is inflated, can be 1 ft. in dia., or as desired to suit a given need. Can be zipped together to extend length as desired. Each length completely self contained. Lengths of each tube to be determined by Weight for ease of handling. Area between three tubes to be filled with Waste oil, for wave suppression.

Tubes to be anchored to retain position as needed. Borate-form, alkaline detergent foam, can be used over oil to cancel fire danger.

This can be picked up and reused over and over again.

Use two booms or catamaran rig in front of ship assigned V task. A ramp just a few inches above surface will allow oil and tubes to wash aboard, as well sump, for oil to collect in, pump into hold or barrels. Wash, deflate and reel in tubing for reuse! In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top or plan view showing the three tubes in place and FIG. 2 is a view inside elevation and the additional tubes in cross section.

The air inflatable tubing comprises three tubes designated by the endless lines 10. Each tube or tubing 10 is made up of any suitable number of sections or tubes each closed at its ends and each having an air-inflating valve.

Each section of the tubes 10 is separably connected to the adjoining or abutting sections by any suitable connecting means such as a conventional zipper or slider encircling the same at 12. 13 are cables or other suitable anchor lines depending at least one from each tube section. When a zipper 12 is moved to open position an adjacent end of one of the sections of the tube thereat or both of them, may be flexed or swung as indicated by the arcuate dotted lines to afford an opening for ingress or egress of a ship or other body relative to the enclosed area and rough open Water.

I claim as my invention:

1. A floating harbor comprising a continuous buoyant tubing resting on rough water to enclose an area to be rendered relatively smooth, the tubing being arranged to confine a film of oil on the area within the tubing and a film of oil extending over the surface of the water sufficient to confine wave action, said tubing being inflatable and in a plurality of separate sections, means removable connecting the several sections together in endless relation and anchor means for said tubing.

2. A floating harbor comprising a continuous buoyant tubing resting on rough Water to enclose an area to be rendered relatively smoth, the tubing being arranged to confine a film of oil on the area Within the tubing and a film of oil extending over the surface of the water suflicient to confine wave action, said tubing being inflatable and provided with relatively movable portions and means separably connecting said relatively movable portions whereby the tubing may be opened to permit entrance and exit from the interior thereof while normally maintaining said portions against relative movement.

3. A floating harbor as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means separably connecting the tubing comprises a slide fastener,

4. A floating harbor comprising a continuous buoyant tubing resting on rough water to enclose an area to be rendered relatively smooth, the tubing being arranged to confine a film of oil on the area within the tubing and a film of oil extending over the surface of the water sufficient to confine wave action, said tubing being three spaced apart endless inflatable tubes confining portions of an oil layer therebetween, said tubes having movable sections providing an entrance therethrough and means detachably connecting and substantially sealing the sections with the endless tube against relative displacement and flow of liquid therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,264,756 4/1918 Begg 61-6 1,933,597 11/1933 McVitty 61-1 X 2,521,174- 9/ 1950 Krupp 285-260 X 2,746,114 5/1956 Williams 285-260 X 2,945,465 7/1960 Barton 61-1 X FOREIGN PATENTS 945,091 12/1963 Great Britain.

JACOB SI-IAPIRO, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

